Sheen Housing believes that people can be more productive community members when they have the basic elements of survival, particularly shelter. For over 35 years, the Sheen Housing Foundation has been an advocate for families and seniors of all denominations and races who need housing repair assistance in maintaining their residences, elevating their quality of life and eliminating threats to their health and safety.

Eligibility | How to Apply | How Extensive is the Need?
Who Does the Work? | Case Histories

Eligibility

Emergency Home Repair grants are subject to family size and household income guidelines. For county-specific information, please contact Sheen Housing at (585) 461-4263.

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Click here for the applications.

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Case Histories

Mrs. A is a senior citizen who has lived in her family home all her life. There was no running water or indoor plumbing. She had always carried her water from a spring and used an outhouse. Mrs. A had a stroke and was not physically able to move back into her house due to housing conditions. There were serious repairs needed to enable her to move back into her home. Through Sheen Housing's programs, we remodeled the home to make life easier for her. We installed running water and a kitchen. She now benefits from a complete bathroom, septic and plumbing.

Mr. and Mrs. D were senior citizens who had rented a house for most of their life. Taking courage, they worked with a realtor and purchased a home. Unfortunately, the home required many repairs, and the cost became a hardship for this senior couple on a fixed income. With Sheen Housing's program, they had lights put in, floors installed with proper coverings and doors installed for their safety and security. Mr. & Mrs. D. are extremely proud of their first home and are grateful to Sheen Housing for making their dream become a safe, secure and affordable reality.

Mr. C, his wife and his 17-year-old son are disabled. They live in a remote town in a very rural setting. We received their application with a hand-written note stating their needs. The letter stated the ceilings were falling. A representative from the NYS Office for the Aging had stopped at the home and called Sheen Housing to tell us the ceilings could come down "at any time." This was a very dangerous situation for the family, particularly because of their disabilities. Sheen Housing's program made the needed health and safety repairs within the home including replacing the ceiling, repairing the roof and painting the interior. The Office for the Aging would make periodic visits to ensure the continued health and welfare of the family.

Miss F came to Sheen Housing through a referral by the local weatherization program and the NYS Office for the Aging. This 68-year-old senior citizen lives on $645 a month from Social Security and could not afford to make necessary repairs to her home. After Sheen Housing's inspection, it was determined Miss F's home needed many repairs to ensure her health, security and safety. All the windows were in poor condition; the walls, flooring and ceilings in most rooms needed to be replaced; plumbing, kitchen and bathroom faucets needed to be replaced; the electric was hazardous; the entry way of the home was in dire need of repair; the foundation was deteriorating rapidly and one complete section needed to be replaced immediately to keep the house from shifting and falling. Through Sheen Housing's program, we were able to take care of all these repairs. With her fixed income, she could not have afforded to move and pay rent. We were able to allow her to remain independent in her home that is now healthy, secure and safe.

Mrs. G is wheelchair bound. She requested assistance to fix the steps of her home for her family's safety. Only upon inspection did we learn that family members carried her in and out of the home twice a day to use the outhouse. With the help of many sources, we redesigned a corner of the home and provided a bathroom and new stairs.

Mr. B is a young man severely handicapped with debilitating arthritis. He came to Sheen Housing for help in installing a special soaking tub for medical purposes per his doctor's advice. There was no room in the 360 square foot, two-room home for this specialized tub. After a home inspection, we determined that the home required other housing repairs. Through Sheen Housing's program, an addition was built for a bedroom, new electric service was installed, as was plumbing, doors and a handicap accessible kitchen. With this enlargement of the home, there was room for the tub. Mr. B remains severely handicapped, but benefits from his therapy in the tub. He can care for his daily needs in less pain and with an improved outlook.

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